White Sox topple Tribe with four-run ninth
CHICAGO -- The White Sox rallied for four runs with one out in the ninth off of Cleveland closer Cody Allen to claim an improbable 4-3 victory on Monday night.
Alexei Ramirez doubled home two runs on a smash to center that was playable for Mike Aviles, but the ball sailed over his head. Tyler Flowers followed with a single to left and Gordon Beckham singled home the tying run on the next pitch. Adam Eaton singled to load the bases and Melky Cabrera singled to left against a drawn-in outfield on a 3-2 fastball to bring in the game-winner. Seven straight hitters reached base against Allen after Adam LaRoche struck out.
"I was one pitch away pretty much the whole inning," Allen said. "I just couldn't get the result I wanted."
Video: Must C Comeback: White Sox 9th-inning comeback
Trevor Bauer was once again too much for the White Sox early on at a very chilly U.S. Cellular Field. The Cleveland right-hander threw seven scoreless innings, fanning seven, including the side in the second and the fourth. Bauer beat the White Sox on April 15, striking out eight in six innings.
Cleveland scored a run in the second on Ryan Raburn's leadoff homer against White Sox left-hander John Danks, and added another in the third when Michael Brantley doubled home Aviles. Aviles scored easily from first when right fielder Avisail Garcia double-clutched on the throw, apparently not sure of where he was throwing the ball. Brett Hayes added the Indians' final tally with his first hit of the season, a solo homer off of Danks in the fifth.
Video: CLE@CWS: Brantley lines an RBI double to right
Danks allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
"It just shows the resiliency we have as a club," Danks said. "We play hard until the ballgame is over one way or another, and fortunately we got the win."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Front runners: Raburn's long home run off of Danks to lead off the second inning gave the Indians a 1-0 lead. It was just the fifth time this season that the Indians have scored first. They were unbeaten in those games before Monday and have yet to record a comeback win.
Video: CLE@CWS: Raburn drills a solo home run to left
Quality is job 1: Danks went longer than he has in either of his two previous starts, working six innings and 90 pitches. He posted just the fifth quality start of the season for the White Sox staff.
"He gutted his way through it," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "And [Dan] Jennings, it was a nice job by the bullpen just to keep it where it was at and it gave us an opportunity."
Video: CLE@CWS: Danks fans four in six strong frames
Blown up: Allen struck out the first batter he faced in the ninth inning before allowing the next seven batters to reach base (six hits and a walk) capped off by Cabrera's single against a drawn-in outfield. Allen also gave up four runs on April 11 against Detroit.
"It's not been great, but you can sum it all up: it's been two out of five games," Allen said of his start. "Granted, it's not very good, but it hasn't been spread where each one has been bad. It's been just two of them. They've been very bad." More >
QUOTABLE
"Again, his development's not done. This is the next step and the most visible step and ideally, the finishing step in his development." -- White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, on the addition of Carlos Rodon. More >
"I think he believes in what he's doing. He might get mad at himself, but it's after he's done pitching. It's not while he's pitching, and I think he's made a lot of strides in that area." -- Indians manager Terry Francona on Bauer's ability to work out of jams caused by walks.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Raburn hit his 75th career homer in the second inning. It was his 18th career long ball against the White Sox.
SECOND TIME AROUND
This was Bauer's second start at U.S. Cellular Field, and he fared much better this time. In his first appearance at the ballpark on June 28, 2013, he lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed five runs on six hits -- including two home runs -- for an ERA of 67.50. The Tribe, though, came back to win the game that day, 19-10, in the first game of a doubleheader.
Video: CLE@CWS: Bauer tosses seven scoreless frames
REPLAY REVIEW
The Indians challenged a third-inning call that Cabrera hit into a fielder's choice, with Eaton being forced at second and Cabrera ruled safe at first by umpire Eric Cooper. The video review showed Cabrera was out at first, completing the double play.
Video: CLE@CWS: Indians challenge, call overturned in 3rd
WHAT'S NEXT
Indians: Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (1-1) threw just eight pitches in his last start last Tuesday before he sustained a bruised jaw after being hit with a line drive off the bat of Cabera. Tuesday's first pitch is at 8:10 p.m. ET.
White Sox: Hector Noesi, who takes the mound Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT, has made just one start this season, coming on April 10, with the White Sox skipping him this past week because of two off-days. Noesi walked six and struck out six against the Royals, throwing 110 pitches in 4 2/3 innings.
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